Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-15
A CITY ON PAPER.
Interesting Revelations in a Suit Against n
Florida Land Company.

Interesting Revelations in a Suit Against u
Florida Land Company.
NEW YORK, January IA project to
boom Florida lands was perfected in this
city in the fall of 1885, and in October of
that year the Florida Home Investment
Company was organized under the laws of
this State. It's object was to acquire title
to lands in Marion county, Florida, to di-
vide it up into building lots 40x1O0 feet,
and to dispose OF the lots TO persons who
desired to build in Marion county. A
brand new city was made which was chris
tened Marion City, and maps and PAM
phlets were gotten up showing the beau
ties of that earthly heaven. Corner lots in
the virgin city were rated at from SO to
S25 each, and choice inside lots could be
had at from So to so each. Large parcels
were to be sacrificed at q heavy discount
Stock in the new company WAS $lOOper
share par value.
Harry Brown, an advertising agent, was
employed to prepare the pamphlet and
maps, to do the advertising, Ito procure
men Ofproperty, to give the company a
striking name, and generally to attend to
its business interests. He alleges that he
did all these things, and when he present.
ell his bill for $1,000, payment was re-
fused. He then sued the company, and
the case was on trial yesterday i'll the City
Court before Judge Browne and jury.
Mr.. Brown testified that the enterprise
was organized by George j.. Mason, l.. h.
Rowlins, George ID. Phillips, w. Howard
Glider, Il. II. Power Farr, and W. A. II.
Stafford, the latter was President, Clar-
encc 4. Eagle was Secretary; Mason, New
York manager, and ltowlins, Florida man
ager.
The pamphlet which Harry Brown had
prepared was produced in court, and made
very interesting. reading 4 picture Of
public square in the heart of the mush-
room city" was displayed in the corner,
and lady and gentleman on prancing
steeds were careering beneath the boughs
of the beautiful foliage. Beneath is the
motto, 1.-The Vineland of the South, the
Garden of America" The title page con-
tains the device, Land of Flowers, Spring
of Youth" The city is thus described:
Marion City is new, and the original
prices of the soil can he ayailod of by the
settlers. The Home Investment Com
pany acquired by clear and undeieasihle
title a large tract of land, heavily timbered,
lying on the Back Bone Ridge in the fam
0us Orange Belt, about twenty-tour miles
from the Gulf of Mexico. \! Sur
rounded by clusters of orange groves
and miles from Cotton Plant,
with her fertile fields"
Among other glowing extracts was this
'The title Italy of AmcriGa' does scant
Justice to that wonderful peninsula where
Ponce de Leon sought his spring of
Eternal Youth and found the lovely Land
of Flowers"
The paragraph sums up the glories Of
the newborn city: "Marion City has the
fertility of the prairies, the market ad-
vantages OF New jersey, the timber re-
sources of Michigan, the cheapness of
Texan lands, the health and cOolness OF
the mountains and the climate of sunny
Italy.
Mr.. Browns charges for launching this
new city on the world were made up of
these items:
For services in originating, dcyisng and car.
rylng on to completion the Florida Home
investment Company ana giving II name SlUO
For services in getting up lODO pamphlets
and preparing advertisements, securing re-
dured rates giving advice and securing
mruwith prnperty.............. .............. 80
For inducing Mr. 81 John 20 rent the ulliceS
at No. lgl RruaiwAy 80 the company with
ont security, furnishing stenOgrapher and
shorthand writer and promoting the inter
estS Of the company generally no
On cross examination Mr.. Brown said he
was offered fifty shares OF stock in pay
ment, hut refused TO accept it, as it was
rendered cOnditionally. George l.. Mason,
the manager, whose home is i'll Gainesville,
Fla, said Mr.. Brown was employed be-
cause il was understood the daily paper
with which he was connected was TO issue
Florida edition in which the company was
to receive favorable notices. He secured a
page advertisement in the paper at 500 be-
low market rates. 1t was believed his con-
nection would be of great service to the
company.
The Jury took over two hours to arrive
at a decision after Judge Browne delivered
his charge Some of them were in favor
of verdict for the full amount claimed,
while Others voted for the defendant cor
porItion. Finally a compromise verdict Of
$50 for the plaintiff was agreed upon.